Front Multifunction Camera, Basic Function - GF54.71-P-9890A

Model All (4xWD) 

Model All (CAR) 

Example illustration of multifunction camera 

Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ USA

Example illustration of multifunction camera 

Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ USA

Overview 

This document contains information on:

• General information 
  • Multifunction camera (vehicle equipment without Driving Assistance Package) 
  • Multifunction camera (vehicle equipment with Driving Assistance Package) 
• Function requirements 
• Function 
  • Multifunction camera (vehicle equipment without Driving Assistance Package) 
  • Multifunction camera (vehicle equipment with Driving Assistance Package) 

General information 

Multifunction camera (vehicle equipment without Driving Assistance Package) 

The multifunction camera (1) records the area in front of the vehicle (e.g. brightness, objects or traffic signs). This information is analyzed by the integrated electronic analysis system and then used for implementing various functions.

Multifunction camera (vehicle equipment with Driving Assistance Package) 

The multifunction camera (2) consists of two high resolution camera heads that are mounted at a distance of approx. 20 cm apart in a housing. The multifunction camera (2) can record the distance to an object and its height above the roadway. This is made possible by the differences in perspective between the left and the right optical path.

The multifunction camera consists of the following main components:

• Camera head (multifunction camera (1))
• Left and right camera head (multifunction camera (2))
• Electronic analysis system (control unit)
• Heating element for auxiliary heating (to avoid any fogging in the multifunction camera's field of view, the windshield is heated in this area by the heating element for the auxiliary heating; the heating element for the auxiliary heating is actuated directly by the multifunction camera)

After replacement of a multifunction camera or the windshield the corresponding multifunction camera has to be recalibrated.

Function requirements 

• Circuit 15 ON
• Engine running or drivetrain operational

Function 

Multifunction camera (vehicle equipment without Driving Assistance Package) 

The multifunction camera (1) controls the following functions:

• Lane guidance (vehicles with Active Lane Keeping Assist)
• Traffic area monitoring (Vehicles for countries with Euro NCAP)
• Traffic sign recognition (vehicles with Speed Limit Assist or with Traffic Sign Assist)
• Automatic high beam (vehicles with Adaptive High beam Assist)

A differentiation is made between the following variants of the multifunction camera (1):

• Entry (vehicles with Adaptive High beam Assist)
• High (vehicles with Active Lane Keeping Assist, with Traffic Sign Assist)
• EVO (vehicles for countries with Euro NCAP)

The Entry or High multifunction camera (1) is connected to the network architecture of the vehicle over CAN.

The EVO multifunction camera (1) is connected to the network architecture of the vehicle over FlexRay.

Multifunction camera (vehicle equipment with Driving Assistance Package) 

The electronic analysis system in the multifunction camera (2) uses the same effect that enables people to see in three dimensions: the parallax or displacement between two images. At an average distance of 20 to 30 m, the multifunction camera (2) can determine the exact distance to the object down to 20 to 30 cm. This high resolution is also available under arduous conditions.

• For example, if several objects are very close to each other.
• When objects are partially concealed.
• If the contrast between an object and the background is markedly low.

The electronic analysis system of the multifunction camera (2) is also able to differentiate shadows and lane markings from real objects. Along with the threedimensional position of a detected object, the multifunction camera (2) also provides decisive additional information: For each pixel of a detected object, a direction of motion can be determined on the horizontal, vertical and longitudinal axes (longitudinal axis of an object). This then clearly recognizes whether an object is moving and if so, where to. In combination with object classification (e.g. pedestrian) based on common features, it is possible to achieve a high degree of decision-making reliability. For example, the exact impact location for a collision can be calculated which in turn enables the time remaining until the point of impact to be used to maximum effect for safety precautions. The multifunction camera (2) supports this process over the entire vehicle speed range.

The multifunction camera (2) is connected to the network architecture of the vehicle over FlexRay.

The multifunction camera (2) controls the following functions:

• Traffic sign recognition (vehicles with Traffic Sign Assist)
• Automatic high beam (vehicles with Adaptive High beam Assist)
• Active driver assistance systems:
  • Active lane guidance
  • Traffic area monitoring

To implement the functions, each multifunction camera processes, e.g. the following information:

• Engine/drivetrain operating state
• Terminal status of circuit 15
• Wheel speed
• Vehicle speed
• Acceleration/yaw rate
• Information indicating driver activity, such as, e.g. turn signaling, accelerating, braking, steering
• Information indicating possible distraction of the driver, such as, e.g.:
  • Operation of audio system
  • Operation of on-board computer/multimedia system
  • Operation of various comfort functions (interior lighting, steering column adjustment)
• Information on any brake control system activities (multifunction camera (2))

The microprocessor integrated in the multifunction camera evaluates these input factors and sends the following information and requests, including:

• Ambient brightness
• Lane data
• Object data (object size, object type, object direction of motion, distance) (multifunction camera (2))
• Requests:
  • Actuate electric power steering actuator motor (vehicles with Lane Keeping Assist).
  • Automatic high beam (vehicles with Adaptive High beam Assist)
  • Display traffic signs (vehicles with Traffic Sign Assist).

	Detailed information
	Front multifunction camera, detailed information	Model 118, 167 as of model year 2023 model 177, 247 as of model year 2022	GF54.71-P-0021A
	Component part descriptions
	Component description for multifunction camera	Model 223	GF54.21-P-3300A
		Model 243	GF54.21-P-3300B
		Model 206	GF54.21-P-3300C
		Model 297	GF54.21-P-3300D
		Model 295	GF54.21-P-3300E
		Model 232	GF54.21-P-3300F
		Model 296	GF54.21-P-3300G
		Model 254	GF54.21-P-3300H
		Model 214	GF54.21-P-3300K
		Model 118 as of model year 2023 Model 177, 247 as of model year 2022	GF54.21-P-3300L
		Model 167 as of model year 2023	GF54.21-P-3300M
		Model 294	GF54.21-P-3300N
		Model 192	GF54.21-P-3300R
		Model 236	GF54.21-P-3300S
		Model 465	GF54.21-P-3300T
	Multifunction camera heating element, component description	Model 223	GF54.71-P-0014A
		Model 206	GF54.71-P-0014C
		Model 297	GF54.71-P-0014D
		Model 295	GF54.71-P-0014E
		Model 232	GF54.71-P-0014F
		Model 296	GF54.71-P-0014G
		Model 254	GF54.71-P-0014H
		Model 214	GF54.71-P-0014K
		Model 294	GF54.71-P-0014N
		Model 192	GF54.71-P-0014R
		Model 236	GF54.71-P-0014S